As Brad Wilson steps down, all eyes turn to a potential 2024 Senate run

Speaker of the House Brad Wilson. Photo: Utah House of Representatives

SALT LAKE CITY – Current Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives Brad Wilson recently announced that he will resign from his position in the legislature, effective November 15, 2023.

Wilson, who has been in the Utah legislature for nearly 14 years, established an exploratory committee in April of this year to assess the possibility of running for Senator Romney’s Senate seat in 2024. Wilson’s resignation comes less than a week after Senator Romney declared he will not seek a second term in the Senate.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox recently titled Wilson as ‘one of the greatest Speakers of the House in the history of our state’ in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Serving in the Utah House of Representatives and as Speaker of the House has been the honor, privilege, and opportunity of a lifetime – and I don’t say that lightly,” Wilson said of his resignation. “I am excited for my next chapter, and have full confidence in my peers in the house, senate, and executive branch to continue making Utah the best place to live, learn, work, and play.”

With the incumbent Romney officially out of the race, one would have to imagine Wilson’s resignation is indicative of his next chapter- a campaign for U.S. Senate in 2024. Wilson’s exploratory committee has raised over $2.2 million as of July, and he also travelled throughout the state to hear the concerns of Utahns.

Wilson spoke with the Townlift in July of this year, and discussed his role as Speaker as well as what he’d like to accomplish if elected to the U.S. Senate.

“We’ll make that decision in the Fall,” Wilson said when asked if he would step down as Speaker of the House if he officially declares his Senate candidacy. “We had tremendous support this last quarter, we more than doubled our expectations in terms of fundraising support in the second quarter and if that support continues, I’d say it’s highly likely that we will announce a full campaign sometime later this fall. And then we’ll make a decision about whether I can balance both roles or not.”

Following the resignation announcement, Wilson’s decision about balancing both roles seems to be clear. While Wilson has not yet officially declared his candidacy for Senate in 2024, his exploratory committee is holding a press conference next week to ‘hold a rally and make a special announcement.’

In the same interview with the Townlift, Wilson identified himself as a ‘strong’ conservative, and said that Utahns want a ‘conservative fighter back in D.C.’

Wilson also discussed some of his potential priorities for the U.S. Senate, including establishing fiscal responsibility, lowering inflation, and limiting the overreach of the federal government.

“One of the things that I’m hearing over and over again from Utahns is that they’re so frustrated with D.C. about the really, really terrible impact that inflation is having on their everyday lives,” Wilson said. “Inflation has been directly caused by decisions made in D.C., and the reckless spending that’s occurred in D.C. And that’s one of the things that if I’m elected I want to help change. We’ve got to spend differently.”

He also discussed how the federal government has become too invasive in the day-to-day lives of all Americans.

“One of the things that I’m hearing over and over again from Utahns is that they’re so frustrated with D.C. about the really, really terrible impact that inflation is having on their everyday lives,” Wilson said. “Inflation has been directly caused by decisions made in D.C., and the reckless spending that’s occurred in D.C. And that’s one of the things that if I’m elected I want to help change. We’ve got to spend differently.”

Read the full article on the interview with the Utah Speaker of the House and potential 2024 Senate candidate Brad Wilson.